Match Preview: DPMM vs HGFC, 29th July 2015

Either side of last month’s 1:0 win over Brunei DPMM in the League Cup, Hougang United had won only once before and lost only once since – until last Friday night when they succumbed to a 0:3 loss to Tampines Rovers. As Hougang United travel to Bandar Seri Bengawan to face Brunei DPMM at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium, they will be hoping for another upset victory to turn their season around again.

With the loss to the Stags the first time in seven games that the Cheetahs failed to score, Vuk Sotirovic’s return from injury could not be more timely. After missing three matches since being sidelined against Singapore Recreation Club, the Serbian striker will be traveling to Brunei with the team. Whether head coach Salim Moin elect to field him in the starting line-up though remains to be seen.

Title contenders Brunei DPMM has been experiencing an uncharacteristic bad run in their last eight games, losing half of their matches and winning only twice. Poor discipline has proven costly with key personnel missing multiple matches through suspension. Their first loss this year – by Balestier Khalsa – came without Joe Gamble. Azwan Ali was sent off in their next match and sat out the loss to Albirex Niigata (S), which also saw Brian McLean being sent off before the Japanese side’s late winner. In the League Cup competition, Azwan Ali sat out the loss to Geylang International after collecting two yellows cards in as many matches. Both Azwan and McLean were suspended for the goalless draw to Home United. McLean also missed the 1:1 draw to the Young Lions.

That last game also saw Adi Said sent off – the team’s fourth red card in six successive league matches – while Paulo Sergio collected his fourth yellow card of the competition. Both players will consequently miss the match against Hougang United, the only team in the past three months that had defeated a Brunei DPMM side that wasn’t missing a suspended player.